Centre deputes High-Level teams to states witnessing a surge in Covid cases

New Delhi, February 24: Health Ministry deputed high-level multi-disciplinary teams to nine states and UT's amid fears of a second wave of COVID-19. According to the Health Ministry Centre has deputed high-level multi-disciplinary teams to Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The teams were sent for supporting them in public health measures for targeted COVID response and management, and effectively tackling the pandemic.

 

 

 

Union Health Secretary has also written to Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, and Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir which have been witnessing a rise in daily COVID cases. In the letter, he has exhorted all stated to focus on undertaking aggressive measures to break the chain of transmission and to ensure that RT-PCR testing is amplified to flush out hitherto undetected cases from the population.

 

The three–member multidisciplinary teams are headed by Joint Secretary level officers in the Health Ministry. These teams will work closely with the States/UT administration and ascertain the reasons for the recent surge in the number of COVID19 cases. They will also coordinate with health authorities of the States/UT for requisite COVID19 control measures to break the chain of transmission.

 

 

The States/UT has been advised for regular critical review of the emerging situation with concerned District officials to ensure that gains made so far in COVID management are not lost.

 

Apart from it, Union Health Secretary has separately requested the Chief Secretaries of these 10 states and UTs to provide time to these High-Level Central teams to debrief the respective Chief Secretaries at the conclusion of their State visits.